with the tide.

The small steamer lying anchored close by in the lagoon had after a long
and dangerous search at last achieved her purpose, having been
despatched, with Carey's father and the captain and chief officer of the
_Chusan_ on board, in search of the wreck if it were still on the reef,
and the meeting was a joyful one.

"I never could think you were dead, my boy," was whispered in Carey's
ear; "and your dear mother always felt the same. I knew I should find
you, and I have, thank God! thank God!"

"Car-ee's ole man?" said a voice just after, and Mr Cranford turned
sharply round to stare at the shining black face.

"Yes," he said, frowning; "I am Carey's--er--old man."

"Me Jackum! You shake han'?"

"Next to Bostock and the doctor, father, my best friend," said Carey,
eagerly.

"Then he is mine," said Mr Cranford.

"Here's a canoe of savages off from the island," shouted the captain of
the _Chusan_ from the deck. "Does this mean a fight?"

"Jackum boy come back," cried the black. "No shoot; all good boy.
Jackum take you Big Dan island. Plenty shell, plenty copra, plenty old
ship 'tuff. Big Dan mumkull. Jackum give all Car-ee now."

But no start was made for the other portion of the King's domain, for a
few days were necessary in the way of rest for the doctor; and the
captain of the _Chusan_ and the mate had to satisfy themselves of the
impossibility of getting the vessel off. During these days, though,
there were busy times, for the specie the _Chusan_ had been bearing was
all hoisted out in safety and transferred to the smaller vessel.

Not much else was done save the taking on board of the pearl shells as
the freight belonging to the doctor and Carey. The pearls were already
in safety, and Bostock made a greater haul with the help of a chum and
the blacks from the tubs ashore.

"Twice as many as the first go, my lad," said the old sailor, rubbing
his hands, "and, I say, oughtn't you and the doctor to lay claim to what
we're a-going to find?"

"No," said Carey, "and besides, we have not found it yet. If there is
much worth having it will go, I should think, to the company that owns
the _Chusan_. But we shall see."

Carey Cranford saw the great treasures in pearls, pearl shell, and
valuables collected from wrecked vessels in the course of some twenty
years, during which Dan Mallam had reigned paramount in a lonely island
off the north-west coast of Australia, for Jackum piloted the